Crusty Artisan Bread

3 cups flour, plus extra for work surface

1 3/4  teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon rapid rise yeast

3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons water, at room temperature

6 Tablespoons mild flavored lager , at room temperature

1 Tablespoon distilled white vinegar

MAKING THE DOUGH

1.  Whisk flour, salt and yeast together in a large bowl.

2.  Add water, vinegar and beer to flour mixture.

3.  Using a rubber spatula,fold the mixture, scraping up the dry flour mixture from the bottom until a shaggy ball of dough forms.

4. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let sit at room temperature for 8 – 18 hours.

 

FORMING THE DOUGH

1.  Transfer the dough to  a  lightly floured work surface and knead abut 15 times.

2.  Lay an 18×12 piece of parchment paper inside a 10 inch skillet and spray the paper with  vegetable cooking spray

3.  Shape the dough into a round loaf and transfer it to the parchment lined skillet seam side down.

4.   Lightly  spray  the top of the dough with  vegetable oil, and cover with plastic wrap.

5.  Let rise approx 2 hours.

 

BAKING THE BREAD:

1.  30 minutes before baking the bread, adjust the oven rack to the lowest position and place a 6-8 quart heavy bottom Dutch oven with the lid on, on the rack and preheat the oven to 500 degrees.

2. Lightly flour the top of the dough surface, and make a 6 inch cut with a sharp knife in the center of the loaf.

3.After the 30 minute warm up, carefully remove the dutch oven from the oven,and remove the lid.

4.Gently lift the parchment paper ( with the Bread ) from the skillet and place in hot pan. Replace lid.  Parchment can hang out over the sides of the dutch oven.

5. Place Dutch oven back into oven and reduce the heat to 425 . and bake covered for 30 minutes.

6. Remove lid and continue baking until loaf is deep brown, approx 20 – 30 minutes.

7.  Remove bread from pot and place on wire rack and cool to room temperature

 

YIELD:  1 loaf

If you want to make this a cheese bread, add 2 cups of cheddar cheese to the dough  in step one of making the dough.  Adding a  sharp cheese and maybe an herb like dill or rosemary will add flavor to the bread.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

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